I have a question about our bikes VIN #'s

[Xcess11]

Bear with me for just a moment.

I have a 1981 XS1100 LH. I just moved from New Mexico to California. I went to California DMV to get my Midnight Special registered and was told that (DMV) could not locate a proper "stamped" 2nd VIN # on my bike.

I have what appears to be a correct white colored VIN tag on the left side of the steering neck. It shows the exact number as appears on my title and registration. On the right hand side of my steering neck is a stamped # that is exactly the same as the engine # stamped on the engine case just above and inboard of the clutch cover. The stamped number is contained in the VIN # on the printed tag on the steering neck but the full printed VIN # has more letters and numbers.

Does anyone else's numbers look like this. DMV here claims that the stamped number should be identicle to the printed tag. As such they have sent me to see the VIN Officer at my local CHP office. I am going back down to tomorrow to see the VIN Ofiicer who said that he will look for the proper number.

When I bought this bike in New Mexico, the VIN # was run by the state and no problems were noted. None of the numbers on my bike appear to have been altered or tampered with.

Anyone who could help shed any light on this would be appreciated. Thanks!

AC

[Pat Kelly]

Typical Ca buracratic BS.
Other than the burden on your time, I'd let them earn their pay kissing their own heineys.
I got my 1968 Ford F100 from my Grandfather. He was the original owner (bought it new in 1969). I had owned and registered it for several years. One year they informed me that I had to reinstall the smog equiptment (it is now exempt from smog checks). This truck was originally from CA. Had never been registered outside CA. I did rebuild the engine. Other than 1st over pistons and rings the truck is all original. CA smog "expert" said this truck with manual transmission was supposed to have a smog pump. Took it to the referee who (after 3 hours of looking in books and on the computer) put a sticker on the door proclaining it to now be a 1969 truck.

[psycoreefer]

This is an issue because the vin laws changed in 1980, all manufacturers were supposed to go to the "long" vin we are all familiar with, starting in 1980. However there were some manufacturers that were dragging their feet and were granted a pass for the 81 model year, yamaha was one of them.

Try doing a search because there are posts that explain in much better then I can, likely the VIN officer has encountered it before and it won't be a problem, so long as your title matches.


I guess the PO of one of my bikes had a huge hassle because my 81 set off red flags because the vin was too short for the Nevada DMV computers or something.

[DiverRay]

Go to another DMV and try again. I usually go to Capitola for "normal" stuff, and Watsonville for anything "hard". You may also want to try a different inspector, like a local CHP office. They WILL verify the short VIN number.

[Xcess11]

Got my plate

Thanks psyco. I met with the VIN officer at CHP and passed on what you said about the change in VIN requirements affecting 1981 Yamaha's. That seemed to help and after he made some phone calls he was satisfied. What he wrote to the DMV was that my stamped number was a "derivative" of the VIN #. He even offered to have the DMV office supervisor call him if there were any questions. DMV had no problem with that.
Yeah, and thanks Ray for mentioning about trying different offices and inspectors. As a new guy in this area I am still learning my way around but New Mexico was the same way. You had to find out which DMV office to go to or what inspector to look for. Is there any state in the country that isn't like that. Sheesh.

AC

[natemoen]

Is there any state in the country that isn't like that.

North Dakota and Minnesota are easy, Wisconsin sucks those are the only states I have had to worry about so far!

[cywelchjr]

Thanks psyco. I met with the VIN officer at CHP and passed on what you said about the change in VIN requirements affecting 1981 Yamaha's. That seemed to help and after he made some phone calls he was satisfied. What he wrote to the DMV was that my stamped number was a "derivative" of the VIN #. He even offered to have the DMV office supervisor call him if there were any questions. DMV had no problem with that.
Yeah, and thanks Ray for mentioning about trying different offices and inspectors. As a new guy in this area I am still learning my way around but New Mexico was the same way. You had to find out which DMV office to go to or what inspector to look for. Is there any state in the country that isn't like that. Sheesh.

AC

Hey, when I went to register my 80 XS400, they couldn't even find the VIN on the engine, even though it's there, it's in the original location and engine AND they were certainly able to find it 20+ years ago when I first brought it into the state, but being stolen and of course all the paperwork being lost at the same time (I moved 4 times before it was recovered) and it had been long enough that DMV had purged it out of the system too, so it had to be inspected. CHP was perplexed to say the least, they thought at first it was because DMV thought it was stolen by me, but on checking it was because DMV couldn't find the VIN on the VIN plate of the engine case. They were sure that wasn't the VIN I guess, even though it matched the number on the frame.

Oh, and then when they went to enter it into the system again, it came up as already there, but that was the only way they could find it, by trying to enter it and getting an error that it was already there.

[Welsh1100]

Registration issues..

Whenever possible..I try to avoid the DMV. Being a Triple A member makes things like registration, title transfers, etc. much easier.

[oldyam80sg]

When i lived in PA i went to the DMV to register my bike that was previously registered in NJ.I drove my Jeep to the DMV and they told me to actually bring the bike there or take some paper with a carbon copy and trace the VIN # so they could see it.I asked how was i supposed to ride it there when it is not registered and DMV told me that you can legally ride the bike to the motor vehicle without plates on it one time and legally use that excuse if you are stopped by Police.So i went home with that in mind and drove the bike there so the VIN inspector could physically see the #.That would never fly in NJ.

[CatatonicBug]

I worked with a guy in CA who rode a bike for years with the paper insert from a dealer in the license plate frame. He finally got pulled over and ticketed for it. It is legal in CA to drive for a short period (30 days IIRC) without a plate after you purchase a vehicle. Here in MO, they make you put a paper temp tag in the rear window for cages, and I believe they do the same for bikes, but it goes in the plate holder. Not sure how that would work if the plate has no "frame" like ours...